The Wimborne-based aggregates business tested the product – which is also connected to its TyreWatch tyre monitoring telematics system – on a selection of trucks.
On one occasion during the trial, a vehicle fitted with the Wheely-Safe product was leaving a job near Southampton, as Paul Harper, AMS transport manager, explains: “An alert came through to us electronically that one of the wheel nut sensors had gone off, then a couple of seconds later another alert came through.
“We immediately contacted the driver and told him to pull over and inspect the affected wheel. Sure enough, there were three studs missing. If we hadn’t had the system in place, it would have been an almost certain wheel detachment and we could have been dealing with a very serious incident.”
Wheely-Safe Heavy comprises a sensor straddling two wheel nuts on a specially designed bracket – with a pair fitted to each wheel. If a nut starts to loosen, a signal can be transmitted to a display unit in the cab, alerting the driver to pull over, or shared via telematics with the transport office.
The system’s onboard heat sensor can also detect brake issues involving low or high temperatures. An inbuilt TPMS is also provided, comprising a set of robust sensors which replace the traditional valve caps and auto-pair with the display unit.
For added visibility, AMS has connected the Wheely-Safe hardware to its TyreWatch software, so it delivers a continuous, real-time report on every tyre in the fleet.
Glenn Sherwood, director of TyreWatch, says: “This joined-up approach with the Wheely-Safe system and our telematics gives the end user complete reassurance and peace of mind.
“Most responsible fleet operators will have other safety measures in place as well, but the Wheely-Safe system is the only one that can tell you if there’s an issue with wheel security while the vehicle is on the move.”